Dynamic bracket system

ABSTRACT

This invention is a dynamic orthodontic bracket system which allows brackets to be adjusted for particular angulations required for each individual tooth of a patient, while the frames are continuously attached to tooth surface. The orthodontist manually adjusts the relationship of a bracket and a frame during treatment eliminating the necessity of a full repositioning of all components. The bracket can be locked or unlocked within the frame with the use of a plate having a tapered thickness. The bracket is positioned such that it can move in various directions to achieve a proper angulation for tooth repositioning. The exterior of the frame can also be textured to provide more secure attachment to the surface of the tooth. This system leads to lower treatment cost, a more stable bracket system, and quicker adjustments of the orthodontic bracket system.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.14/014,328, entitled “Dynamic Bracket System” by Hessam Rahimi, filedAug. 29, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 61/819,536, entitled “Dynamic Bracket System” by Hessam Rahimi,filed May 4, 2013, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. applicationSer. No. 13/598,931, entitled “Dynamic Bracket System” by Hessam Rahimi,filed Aug. 30, 2012.

The entire teachings of the above applications are incorporated hereinby reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Orthodontics is a specialty in dentistry that moves teeth within the jawbone and straightens the teeth by moving them to the properthree-dimensional location. In orthodontics, brackets are pieces ofmetal with a slot that accepts a flexible or rigid metallic wire. Suchbrackets are conventionally bonded to the teeth on a base (via a frame)and serve as vehicles allowing the orthodontist to apply force to thetooth to move it across the wire to its proper location with the properangulation.

The interaction of force, wires and brackets guides the threedimensional movement of the tooth. The force applied to the teeth, bythe wire, forces the teeth to slowly alter their positions to align withthe wire and therefore position them correctly in three dimensions.

Conventional brackets generally have a fixed slot wherein the positionof the slot relative to the tooth is fixed. Historically, brackets werethe same for all teeth, regardless of patient individuality. Since everytooth has a unique three dimensional relationship with the rest of theteeth, the orthodontist was required to bend the wire that passed acrossthe bracket slot in order to correct tooth angulation for eachindividual tooth.

In orthodontics, the angulation of the bracket slot in each dimension isdescribed differently. The angulation of the bracket slot in theleft-right direction is called ‘tip’ and the angulation of slot in theback-forward direction is called ‘torque’. An average tip and torque hasbeen calculated for every tooth, based on studies of normal dentitions.A modification was presented a few decades ago by which specificbrackets were created for every tooth according to their averageangulations so that when a straight wire was passed through the slot,the difference between the angle of the straight wire and the angle ofthe slot would force the tooth to track the wire and achieve the properangulation. However, the inaccuracies occurred when a bracket was notbonded to the proper location on the tooth, which led to an improperangulation of the tooth and ultimately to a misaligned tooth.

Also, the presumed angulations are merely averages, based on estimatesof average sizes and shapes of teeth. Each individual is different withvarying morphology for their teeth. Whenever a patient's teeth do notfall within the normal range, the straight wire technique does notproduce optimum tooth angulation and location. Commonly, brackets arenot always placed in the proper location on the tooth resulting inerroneous bracket positioning. In order to correct for such problems, acertain number of brackets are repositioned during the course of thetreatment to address these inaccuracies and improper bracket placements.Repositioning is both time-consuming and expensive and oftentimes doesnot cure the improperly positioned bracket. The process of bracketrepositioning involves a patient's office visit, removal of the oldbracket, polishing of the tooth surface, priming of the surface andapplication of the new bracket to the surface. This process can takeanything from 5 to 15 minutes per tooth, depending on the location ofthe bracket and the experience of the clinician.

A need exists for a dynamic bracket system that allows the clinician tochange the angulation of the bracket to achieve proper tooth alignment.A further need exists for a dynamic bracket system that allows a changein angulation in a number of different directions. Yet a further needexist to do so using a system that is efficient, easy to adjust and costeffective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The dynamic bracket system of the present invention is designed to equipthe practitioner with the ability to conveniently modify the position,tip and torque of the bracket slot component during the course oftreatment, without having to remove and rebond the bracket. The dynamicbracket system of the present invention increases efficiency and qualityof patient care. A dynamic bracket system of the present inventionincludes a frame, bracket slot component, stationary cover, and a movingcover. The frame, with its textured bottom side, can be bonded to thetooth surface with an adhesive material. The bracket slot component(also referred to as the “bracket”) includes a base, a stem (alsoreferred to as a “neck”) and the top portion of the bracket, whichincludes an upper arm, a slot, and a lower arm. In some embodiments,instead of upper arm and lower arm designations, the terms arm A, arm B,arm C, and arm D are used.

In an embodiment, the bracket system uses friction to secure the slotcomponent after it is repositioned. Within the bracket system, the stem,immediately below the top portion of the bracket, can be positionedwithin the bracket compartment opening, between the junction of themoving cover and stationary cover. In some embodiments, instead of amoving cover and a stationary cover, there is one receiving member thatis part of a single piece frame. The bracket base can be secured byvertical pressure from the joining of the moving cover and stationarycover within the frame. The base of the bracket slot component, belowthe stem, can rest above the textured interior of the bracket frame. Inan embodiment, the textured interior surface ensures that the bracketcomponent does not move freely within the space created between bracketframe and the covers, or between the groove created between thereceiving member and the anchoring member. The diameter of the bracketstem is smaller than the opening created by the covers such that thebracket stem fits within the opening. The base of the bracket slotcomponent can be wider than the stem yet narrower than the frame.

The dynamic bracket system, in an embodiment, also includes a stationarycover and a moving cover which slide into position within the bracketframe along guiding grooves in the interior side walls of the bracketframe. The guiding groove is an indentation that runs along the topinterior edge of the frame. The ends of the stationary cover and movingcover are tapered to allow sliding of the moving cover over thestationary cover in the guiding groove. The horizontal force on thecovers as the covers move towards the end of the grooves, slidingfriction of the covers over one another, as well as vertical pressure onthe base of the bracket combine to limit the movement of the covers.

Each cover, in an embodiment that has such covers, has depressions atthe exterior edge of the cover, which lock onto projections along theguiding groove of the frame. In this embodiment, the stationary coverand moving cover both have irregularly shaped interior edges. When thestationary and moving covers are in position within the bracket frame,an opening to the bracket slot compartment is created at the junction ofthe interior edge of the two covers. During initial assembly of thebracket, first, the stationary cover is guided into position within thebracket frame, along the guiding grooves. The stationary cover is lockedinto place when the depression on the stationary cover connects with theprojection along guiding groove.

The bracket slot component is inserted into the space between the coverand the frame so that the base of the slot component lies beneath thecover and the rest of the slot component lies above it. Finally, themoving cover is guided into position within the bracket frame until thedepressions connect with the projections of the guiding groove. Thebracket slot component is secured between the frame and the covers bythe secure connection between the stationary cover and the moving cover.The covers are locked together by a locking mechanism such as ball andsocket, key and key hole or force of friction. The guiding grooves areslightly wider than the width of the covers so that when the two coverscome together, the stationary cover is pushed down as the moving coveris wedged between a side of the guiding groove and the stationary cover.Without the slightly wider guiding grooves, a positive pressure or forceof friction could be more difficult to create so as to secure thecovers.

This design allows for the bracket slot component to be adjusted withinthe confines defined by the stationary cover and moving cover when themoving cover is in the ‘open’ configuration and not fixed in place. Thebracket slot component locks in place when the moving cover is in the‘lock’ configuration. The slot component is able to rotate 360 degreesas well as move within the range defined by the difference in radius ofthe stem and the opening to the bracket compartment (also referred to asthe inner borders of the covers). The frame's exterior or tooth-sidesurface can be textured to increase bond strength. The tooth-sidesurface of the bracket frame can have adaptive curves associated withthe morphology of tooth surface. The base of the stem and the base-sideof the frame can have micro-depressions to prevent sliding of the slotwhen the moving cover is in lock position. This bracket system usesfriction as a means to prevent alteration of position of bracket slotrelative to the frame.

The two covers have a locking mechanism when they meet that prevents themoving cover from opening unless subjected to horizontal force appliedthrough a regular orthodontic plier to its opening ledge. When the twocover extensions meet, a positive downward pressure or force of frictionis applied on the base of the slot component, locking it in place. Thisincreased positive pressure is created as the sloped surface of themoving cover extension slides above the sloped surface of the stationarycover extension. The moving cover is held in place by the guidinggrooves or narrow cut outs made in the inner surface of the walls of thebase frame, allowing it to move back and forth in the horizontaldirection. When the stationary cover is positioned in the frame wall'sguiding groove, it will lock in place when pushed to the edge of theframe and the opposing socket in the stationary cover. The moving coveris locked in place when engaged with the stationary cover. Thestationary cover and the moving cover are secured when the depressionson these covers are positioned within the projections in the guidinggroove, at the exterior edge of the frame. The frame wall surrounds thebracket frame except the feeding wall where it allows for the base ofthe bracket compartment to slide underneath the covers. The moving coverhas a notch close to the edge on the feeding side of the frame thatprevents it from coming loose when the moving cover is open unlesssubjected to sufficient force from a human hand using a dental plier orother tool. When subjected to sufficient force, practitioner can replacethe moving cover in cases where breakage happens or the practitioner isrequired to modify the slot configuration for any reason, whether it isdamaged or a different torque number is required.

The designs detailed above are some of the basic embodiments describedherein that make use of covers. In addition to these, certainembodiments that do not need separate covers, and that can instead useintegral parts of the frame itself, are also encompassed by the presentinvention.

In an aspect, the present invention includes a bracket system for use aspart of orthodontic braces. The bracket system has a frame and abracket, in which the frame can be manipulated so that the bracket canbe inserted into it, removed from it, and locked into it. Additionally,in some embodiments, the bracket comprises a base, a neck, and one ormore arms. The base of the bracket is received by the frame, in part orin full, and the one or more arms can be shaped to create a slot thatcan receive a wire. In some embodiments, the exterior surface of theframe is textured so that it ensures that the friction between the toothand the frame is high enough to prevent sliding. In other embodiments,the interior surface of the frame can be textured too, in addition tothe bottom surface of the base. Such texturing can ensure that the lockbetween the bracket and the frame is stronger that what would have beenachieved by the fastener, to be explained later, alone. In alternativeembodiments, the bracket has four arms. These four arms can create twoslots, for example.

In some embodiments, the bracket system has a frame that comprises ananchoring member to anchor the frame to a tooth, a receiving member toreceive a bracket, a hinge that connects the two members mentioned, anopening in the receiving member to accept a bracket, and a fastener tolock the relative positions of the receiving and anchoring members. Incertain embodiments, the bracket within the frame can rotate around 360degrees and it can also move in any direction along the 360 degrees.

In a particular embodiment, the fastener of the bracket is a clip thatexists as part of the single-piece forming the frame. The clip can havea stopper to stop a potentially dislocating receiving member. The clipcan also have teeth that can align with teeth on the receiving member.The bracket system, in any of the embodiments, can be decorated withmarkings, either orthogonal to any of the sides or oblique to any of thesides, to facilitate alignment of the bracket and the frame with respectto each other. The markings can exist on both the bracket and the frame.

In another aspect, an embodiment includes one or more screws as part ofthe fastener. The screws can be received by one or more screw receiverson the receiving member as well as on the anchoring member. The screwreceivers on the anchoring member need not allow full passage of thescrews; or if they do, they can be used in conjunction with screws thatare designed with a specific length. In a separate embodiment, thefastener can be manufactured in the form of a lever. The lever can havea lever handle and a lever lock. The lever lock, when the handle ismoved, can ensure that the receiving member and the anchoring member aretightly locked when a bracket is in place.

In various embodiments, one or more components of the bracket system canbe made, in part or in whole, from materials such as nickel-titaniumalloys, titanium-molybdenum alloys, and/or stainless steel. The frame,in some embodiments, can be placed onto the facial (labial or buccal)side of a tooth, whereas, in others, it can be placed onto the lingualside of a tooth. In some embodiments, the brackets are self-ligatingbrackets or can be adapted to be self-ligating.

In alternative embodiments, methods of using a bracket system aredisclosed. One method includes the steps of anchoring the frame of abracket system onto a tooth, placing a bracket into the frame, andfastening the frame to lock the bracket in place. Alternatively, themethod of the present invention can include the steps of placing abracket into a frame that has been anchored onto a tooth, and fasteningthe frame to lock the bracket in place. The steps of the method includeunlocking the bracket, readjusting or re-positioning the bracket andlocking the bracket into place. Various embodiments of such methods ofusing a bracket system can be modified in accordance with theembodiments of the bracket system disclosed herein.

In a different embodiment, in addition to the frame and the bracket, aplate is provided. The plate, in terms of its function, serves a purposeanalogous to that of the fastener in some of the other embodiments: itfixes (and unfixes) or “locks” or “unlocks” the relative positions ofthe bracket within the frame. In these embodiments, the frame ismanufactured with side walls (e.g., 2 or 3 side walls), and thus has itsanchoring and receiving members fixed in positions relative to eachother. The side walls, in one sense, can be considered to be analogousto the hinge of some of the other embodiments; however, unlike thehinge, the side walls do not allow a similar flexibility within theframe. The anchoring member, receiving member and the side walls definea cavity in which, when in use, the plate and the bracket base reside.For locking the system, the plate is inserted into the front faceopening in the frame and into the cavity. The plate is placed underneaththe bracket base. The plate can be inserted fully or partially dependingon how much pressure is desired to keep the bracket in place. In anembodiment, the plate has a tapered thickness in which the thickness isgreater at the grip end of the plate, as compared to the insertion end.As the plate is slid into place through the front frame opening, thebracket base is locked into place when the thickness of the plate isabout the same as the distance between the bottom of the bracket baseand the top of the inner surface of the anchor member. Put another way,the height of the opening of the cavity is about equal to or greater, tothe thickness of at least one point along the length of the plate plusthe height/thickness of the bracket base.

In these different embodiments, there no longer is a need for a separatefastener: the plate replaces the fastener. In addition, there no longeris a need for a hinge: the side walls replace the hinge, and theanchoring and receiving members of the frame no longer movesubstantially with respect to each other. Various surfaces can be madeto have high frictional coefficients: the inner surface of the anchoringmember, the bottom surface of the plate, the upper surface of the plate,and the bottom surface of the base of the bracket. Any and all of thesemay be manufactured with a textured surface.

In methods that employ the embodiments with the plate, a user can anchorthe frame onto a tooth; place the bracket base into the opening of thereceiving member of the frame; and insert the plate into the cavity andunderneath the bracket base to lock the bracket into position. Themethod further includes, after the frame is anchored to the tooth, tounlock the bracket by removing the plate and repositioning the bracketbase. The user can then re-insert the plate into the cavity andunderneath the bracket base to lock the bracket into a differentposition.

Additionally disclosed are kits that have a frame and a bracket. Thekits can have as frames and brackets, any of the embodiments disclosedherein. The kits can also include wires (e.g., archwires), ligatingmembers, or other tools to facilitate the use of the bracket systems.Some embodiments of the kits instead include a frame with two or threeside walls, and a plate that can be inserted to fasten the bracketsystem. The plate can be manufactured from the same materials as theother parts, such as the frame. For example, the plate can be made fromnickel-titanium alloys, titanium-molybdenum alloys, and/or stainlesssteel.

The present invention has several advantages. Because the frame can bemanufactured as a single piece, production costs are lower, and also thepotential of a piece being lost is lower. The simplicity of a singlepiece also facilitates the ease of using the bracket system. Thecombined locking action of the fasteners and the textured surfacesensures that the bracket and the frame do not move relative to eachother unless desired. The ability to rotate the bracket 360 degrees, andalso the ability to move (e.g., translate) the bracket in any directionalong the mentioned 360 degrees enables a clinician to achieve anydesired orientation of the bracket to bring about a needed orthodonticadjustment of a tooth. The obviated need to remove the bond between atooth and a bracket during treatment, because of the use of a frameseparate from the bracket, facilitates faster treatment times andreduces any potential of damaging the tooth due to suchunbonding-rebonding cycles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following more particulardescription of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which parts are referred to by referencecharacters across views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale,emphasis instead being placed on illustrating the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a top view of a dynamic bracket system, where Ref. 1 is thebracket system frame, Ref. 2 is the moving cover, Ref. 3 is thestationary cover, Ref. 4 is the releasing notch, Ref. 5 is the bracketwire slot, Ref. 6 is a bracket slot component, Ref. 7 is the junctionbetween the moving and stationary covers, and Ref. 8 is the opening tothe bracket compartment

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a dynamic bracket system, where Ref. 1is the bracket system frame, Ref. 6 is the bracket slot component, Ref.9 is the tooth surface, Ref. 10 is the bracket base, Ref. 11 is theupper arm of the bracket slot component, Ref. 12 is the wire slot of thebracket slot component, Ref. 13 is the lower arm of the bracket slotcomponent, Ref. 14 is the bracket stem, and Ref. 16 is the bracket slotcompartment

FIG. 3 is a top view of a bracket slot compartment opening created byjoining of stationary and moving covers, where Ref. 1 is the bracketsystem frame, Ref. 2 is the moving cover, Ref. 3 is the stationarycover, Ref. 4 is the releasing notch, Ref. 7 is the junction between themoving and stationary covers, and Ref. 8 is the opening for the bracketslot compartment

FIG. 4 is a top view of a bracket slot compartment without covers, whereRef. 1 is the bracket frame, Ref. 15 is the textured surface of theinterior of the bracket slot compartment, Ref. 16 is the bracketcompartment, and Ref. 17 is the guiding grooves within the interior ofthe frame

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a bracket slot compartment withoutcovers, where Ref. 1 is the bracket frame, Ref. 15 is the texturedsurface of the interior of the bracket slot compartment, Ref. 16 is thebracket compartment, Ref. 17 is the guiding grooves within the interiorof the frame, and Ref. 18 is a projection along the guiding groove

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a stationary cover and moving cover inan unlocked position, where Ref. 2 is the moving cover, Ref. 3 is thestationary cover, Ref. 4 is the releasing notch, Ref. 8 is the openingfor the bracket slot compartment created by the joining of the movingand stationary covers, Ref. 19 is the securing depression on the movingcover, Ref. 20 is the securing depression on the stationary cover, Ref.21 is the connecting edge of the moving cover, and Ref. 22 is theconnecting edge of the stationary cover

FIG. 7 is a close-up top view of covers in an unlocked position, whereRef. 2 is the moving cover, Ref. 3 is the stationary cover, Ref. 4 isthe releasing notch, Ref. 8 is the opening for the bracket slotcompartment created by the joining of the moving and stationary covers,Ref. 21 is the connecting edge of the moving cover, and Ref. 22 is theconnecting edge of the stationary cover

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a bracket slot component, where Ref. 10is the base of the bracket, Ref. 11 is upper arm of the bracket slotcomponent, Ref. 12 is the slot of the bracket where the orthodontic wireis inserted, Ref. 13 is the lower arm of the bracket component, and Ref.14 is the stem of the bracket

FIG. 9 is a schematic of a perspective view of an embodiment of thebracket system.

FIG. 10 is a schematic of perspective views of the embodiment of thebracket system of FIG. 9, showing a bracket and a frame as separatedcomponents.

FIG. 11 is a schematic of a side view of the embodiment of the bracketsystem of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a schematic of a perspective view of an embodiment of thebracket system showing a bracket that is rotated differently relativethe one shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is a schematic of a top view of an embodiment of the bracketsystem showing the relative alignments of different markings on abracket with those on a frame.

FIG. 14 is a schematic of a perspective view of an embodiment of thebracket system that is different than the one shown in FIG. 9 throughFIG. 13. This particular bracket system is shown with its bracket andframe as separated components. The figure also shows two screws that areused to fasten the frame once it receives the bracket.

FIG. 15 is a schematic of a perspective view of an embodiment of thebracket system that shows the components of the system together. Thesecomponents were shown in their separated states in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a schematic of a perspective view of an embodiment of thebracket system. The figure shows the embodiment shown in FIG. 15 fromits opposite side, essentially revealing the exterior surface of itsframe that can contact a tooth.

FIG. 17 is a schematic of a perspective view of an embodiment of thebracket system that is different than the one shown in FIG. 9 throughFIG. 13, and also different from the one shown in FIG. 14 through FIG.16. This particular embodiment uses a lever, as shown, to fasten theframe. The figure only shows the frame component; the bracket componenthas been removed to better illustrate different parts of the lever.

FIG. 18 is a schematic of a side view of an embodiment of the bracketsystem, part of which is also shown in FIG. 17. The bracket system inthe figure is seen in an unlocked position due to the lever being in araised position.

FIG. 19 is a schematic of a perspective view of an embodiment of thebracket system, not shown in any of the previous figures. The bracketsystem is shown with its components separated from each other. Thecomponents include the frame, the bracket and the plate.

FIG. 20 is a schematic of a side view of the embodiment of the bracketsystem shown in FIG. 19, depicting a bracket placed on top of a plateresiding within a cavity of the frame.

FIG. 21 is a schematic of a top view of the embodiment of the bracketsystem shown in FIG. 19, depicting a plate inserted into the frame withthe grip end of the plate sitting outside of the frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A description of preferred embodiments of the invention follows.

FIG. 1 is a top view of an embodiment of the dynamic bracket system. Theshown dynamic bracket system is composed of a bracket system frame (1)which is connected to the tooth surface (9) (not shown in FIG. 1 butshown in FIG. 2). The interior of the shown frame has grooves or guidinglines (17) for the insertion of the stationary cover and moving cover.See FIG. 4. The moving cover (2) is inserted after the stationary cover(3) into the frame such that the covers connect at a junction (7). Theconnected covers exert a vertical pressure on the bracket base (10) thathelps secure the base inside the bracket compartment (16). The movingcover (2) has a releasing notch (4) into which an orthodontic plier ortool can be inserted in order to release the moving cover from the frame(1). Once the stationary cover (3) is in place within the frame, thebracket slot component (6) is inserted followed by another bracket slotcomponent (6). Each bracket slot component, in this embodiment, has abracket wire slot (5) for the insertion of a guiding wire into thebracket system. The interior edges of both the stationary cover and themoving cover contain a cutout section such that an opening to thebracket compartment (8) is created where the bracket slot component (6)will be inserted within the bracket system.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dynamic bracket system that wasshown in FIG. 1. The bracket system can be attached to the front surfaceof the user's tooth (9). The bracket slot component (6) is composed ofan upper arm (11), a wire slot (12), a lower arm (13), a stem (14) and abase (10). The bracket slot component (6), in this embodiment, isinserted into the frame (1) between the stationary cover and movingcover. The bracket base (10) of the bracket slot component rests beneaththe stationary and moving covers in the bracket slot compartment (16),where the bracket base is secured by vertical pressure from the covers.The interior surface of the bracket slot compartment, in thisembodiment, is textured (15) to prevent movement of the bracket slotcomponent (6). The bracket stem (14) is inside the opening (8) for thebracket slot compartment (16). The opening (8) is created, in thisembodiment, by the joining of the edges of the stationary cover andmoving cover. See FIG. 3. Each cover has an irregularly shaped interioredge, which creates an opening to the compartment (8) to allow for theinsertion of the bracket stem between the joined covers.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the bracket slot compartment opening created bythe joining of the stationary and moving covers, corresponding to partsof the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The stationary and movingcovers each contain an irregularly shaped interior edge that creates anopening (8) for the bracket slot compartment when the covers arealigned. The stationary cover (3) is inserted into the bracket systemframe (1) along the guiding grooves (17). Then the moving cover (2) isalso inserted along the guiding grooves (17) until its sloped edge meetsthe sloped edge of the stationary cover (3) at the junction point (7).The outer edge of the moving cover (4) has a releasing notch (4) thatassists in the removal of the moving cover. Pressure applied to thereleasing notch with a dental tool will release the moving cover fromits position. The dental tool can be any type of the following: cutter,explorer, plier, stripper, or scaler. The opening (8) to the bracketslot component is created by the joining of the stationary and movingcovers at their interior edges.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the bracket slot compartment (16) without thestationary cover or moving cover. The embodiment shown in this figure,and described in this paragraph, corresponds to the ones shown in FIG.1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3. The components of the bracket system areassembled within the bracket frame (1). The interior edges of the frame,in this embodiment, have guiding grooves (17) that the stationary andmoving covers glide along as the covers are inserted into the frame. Theinterior surface of the bracket compartment is textured (15) to preventmovement of the bracket base (10) within the compartment (16).

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bracket slot compartment (16)without the stationary cover or moving cover. The embodiment shown inthis figure, and described in this paragraph, corresponds to the oneshown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 4. The components of the bracket system areassembled within the bracket frame (1). The interior edges of the frame(1) have guiding grooves (17) that the stationary and moving coversglide along as the covers are inserted into the frame (1). There are anumber of projections (18), along the surface of the guiding grooves(17) that lock with the depressions (19) on the moving and stationarycovers to secure the covers to the frame (1). The connection between theprojections (18) and the depressions (19) also exerts vertical pressureon the bracket base (10) within the bracket compartment (16). Theinterior surface of the bracket compartment (16) is textured (15) toprevent movement of the bracket base within the compartment (16).

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the stationary cover and moving cover inan unlocked position. The moving cover (2) and the stationary cover (3)both have connecting edges (21, 22) that lock together at the junction.In addition, the moving cover (2) and the stationary cover (3) both havecutout sections on the interior edges of the covers. When the movingcover and the stationary cover are locked or joined, a closed off roundopening (8) is created. The bracket component can be positioned withinthis opening (8) to the bracket slot compartment (16) when the bracketsystem is fully assembled. The moving cover has dual securingdepressions (19) at its exterior edges that serve to secure the movingcover (2) and prevent the cover from falling out of the frame (1). Thesedepressions (19) connect with projections (18) along the guiding groove(17) to secure the cover in the frame. The stationary cover also hasdual securing depressions (20) at its outer edges that serve to securethe stationary cover (3) and prevent the cover from falling out of theframe. The securing depressions on the bottom side of the coversprotrude and prevent the covers from sliding out of position. Thesedepressions (20) connect with projections (18) along the guiding groove(17) to secure the cover in the frame (1). There is also a releasingnotch (4) that unlocks the cover once an orthodontic plier is insertedin the latch with sufficient force from a hand or a dental tool.

FIG. 7 is a close-up top view of the covers in an unlocked position. Themoving cover (2) and the stationary cover (3) both have connecting edges(21, 22) that lock together at the junction and cutout sections on theinterior edges of both covers. When the moving cover and the stationarycover are locked or joined, a closed off round opening (8) is created.The moving cover has dual depressions (19) at its outer edges that serveto secure the moving cover and prevent the cover from falling out of theframe. The stationary cover also has dual securing depressions (20) atits outer edges that serve to secure the stationary cover (3) andprevent the cover from falling out of the frame. There is also areleasing notch (4) that unlocks the cover once an orthodontic plier isinserted in the latch with sufficient force from a hand or a dentaltool.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a bracket component. The shown bracket slotcomponent is made of an upper arm (11) and a lower arm (13) with a slot(12) between the arms wherein an orthodontic wire would be inserted toaid in the movement of teeth. Two bracket slot components wouldcollectively have two upper arms, two lower arms, and a slot that wouldrun along both of the individual slots. Beneath the slot (13), lies thestem (14) of the bracket slot component. The stem is of a smallerdiameter than the distance between the outside edges of the upper andlower arms of the bracket component. Beneath the stem, lies the base ofthe bracket (10) which is of a length larger than that of the stem. Thestem (14) of the bracket slot component is inserted through the bracketcompartment opening (8) and the base (10) of the bracket slot componentrests against the textured interior surface (15) of the bracketcompartment in the bracket frame (1).

The embodiments described herein can be used to create mesial movements(toward the central teeth), distal movements (toward the last molars),lingual movements (toward the tongue behind the teeth), facial movements(toward the lips (labial) or toward the cheeks (buccal)), apicalmovements (toward the root), coronal movements (toward the crown), orany combination thereof. Certain embodiments are especially suited formesial, distal, lingual, and facial movements. Other terms for the typesof movements that can be created include tipping, torqueing,translation, root uprighting, rotation, extrusion, and intrusion.Tipping refers to a type of mesiodistal movement, and torqueing is abuccolingual movement. Extrusion is a coronal, and intrusion an apicalmovement. Forces required for these types of movements can be in the 15to 150 g range or higher, and are attainable with the embodimentsdisclosed herein. The units used herein for forces are grams,abbreviated as “g”. Even though gram, from a physical standpoint is aunit for mass, in orthodontics, it is sometimes used as a shorthand forgram-force, and is understood to stand for the amount of force thestandard gravity (e.g., 9.8 m/s²) would exert on an object having acertain mass. By this definition used herein, 1 g would be equivalent toa force of approximately 0.0098 N (Newton), while 1N would approximatelyequal 101.97 g. In some publications, it is possible to come acrossdifferent definitions of some of the terms relating to the movements ofteeth. For example, tipping is sometimes referred to as the simplestorthodontic movement that occurs at about the center of resistance of atooth (sometimes described as ⅓ from root apex or 40% of root lengthfrom alveolar crest). For such a tipping, forces are high at apex andalveolar crest, for example 35-70 g, while they reduce to zero atcenter. Such a broad definition (not used herein) would combine thedefinitions of tipping (as used herein) and torqueing (as used herein)into one general term. Translation can be referred to as any bodilymovement where all of periodontal ligament is uniformly loaded withforces such as 70-150 g. Rotation is sometimes believed to need a levelof force that is theoretically high, and because of the ensuingcompression of the periodontal ligament with forces around 35-100 g,tipping may accompany an attempted rotation. Extrusion, as a verticalmovement, depends on creating tension at the fibers of periodontalligament, of around 35-60 g. Intrusion, a similarly vertical movement,has forces of 10-25 g concentrated at root apex. Forces used to bringdifferent tooth movements about can be applied continuously (at a lightlevel, sometimes referred to as “ideal”) or only when wearing anappliance (sometimes referred to as “interrupted”). As a hybrid of thetwo types above, the force can also be applied such that it graduallyreduces (e.g., to zero) between visits to a clinician (this type offorce is sometimes referred to as “intermittent”). The appliances usedto apply forces can be, in general, fixed or removable. Each of theembodiments of the present invention can be used to effectuate therotation/positioning described above without having to re-bond the frameto the tooth. Once the frame is anchored to the tooth, this can beaccomplished by unlocking the bracket, repositioning it, and re-lockingthe bracket into place.

From a purely physical standpoint, orthodontic tooth movements can bedescribed as either translations, rotations, or a combination of thetwo. In some texts, it is possible to come across the term “tipping” tobe used in the sense of a “combination” as described above (e.g.,broadly as a combination of translation and rotation). A force that doesnot pass though the center of resistance of a tooth can cause thecombination of translation and rotation, essentially resulting inmovement with some rotational element. To create pure rotation, a singleforce is not enough; at least a couple (e.g., two forces) are needed.

Periodontal ligament (PDL) attaches a tooth to the alveolar bone and hasfibroblasts, osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and undifferentiated cells, amongothers. PDL is at the interface between the tooth and the cortical bone.Cortical bone has slow turnover, whereas trabecular bone that isadjacent but further away from the tooth, has constant turnover. Whenforce is applied to a tooth, PDL/bone receives the force and this leadsto microfractures, in addition to other changes. Ultimately, osteoblastsmediate tension and osteoclasts mediate compression; hence, deposition(secretion of new bone by osteoblasts) and resorption (breaking down, byosteoclasts) of bone is accomplished. Level and duration of force areimportant for properly moving the teeth. For describing movements of theteeth, it is often useful to refer to the six different surfaces of atooth. These surfaces are: gingival, occlusal, lingual, labial, mesial,and distal surfaces.

As mentioned, when a tooth moves, osteoblasts facilitate formation ofnew bone (e.g., bone deposition) from a location that a tooth has movedfrom, and osteoclasts facilitate removal (e.g., bone resorption) of bonetissue from the area that a tooth is moving into. The embodimentsdescribed herein can be used with a suitable pace of bracket adjustmentsso that bone formation and degradation are optimal, as determined by aclinician. In some embodiments, the used brackets can be made fromtranslucent ceramic so that they are less visible against natural teeth.The brackets can be used with any wires, including nitinol(Nickel-Titanium alloy) wires with shape memory effects at varioustemperatures. Other materials for the wires include Titanium-Molybdenumalloys and stainless steel. The frames can be bonded to the teeth viabonding materials as well as via metal bands.

Brackets, wires, and other orthodontic supplies can be purchased from avariety of sources such as JesOrthopental, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; HenrySchein Dental, Waltham, Mass.; and 3M Unitek Orthodontic Products,Monrovia, Calif.

One physical phenomenon on which some of the wires (e.g., archwires)used in contemporary bracket systems operate is shape memory effect,which allows application of appropriate forces to move the desiredteeth. Some materials have the ability to return to a shape upon beingexposed to a certain inducer, such as a change in temperature. Twocommon examples of such materials, sometimes called smart materials, areshape memory alloys (SMA) and shape memory polymers (SMP). SMAs can beset to a certain shape by being forged at a low temperature, and theywill remember and try to return to that shape when they are placed at ahigher temperature. For example, the desired shape can be set at atemperature that is much lower than the body's temperature, and thematerial, after being placed in or near a human body, would remember itsoriginal temperature and would try to return to it, in effect generatingforces toward that original shape. These materials with shape memory canbe used in the making of archwires for dental braces. The set and thepost-heating states are sometimes described as the martensitic and theaustenitic states, respectively. Common alloys used to make SMAs includenickel-titanium and copper-aluminum-nickel alloys. While the most commonSMAs remember their shape at a low temperature and try to return to itfrom a high temperature state, some SMAs can remember both a low and ahigh temperature state. The ability to create SMAs with varyingmaterials and compositions of such materials allows the manufacturing ofalloys of a wide variety of size and shape. While SMAs have beencommonly employed for dental braces, SMPs may constitute a reasonablealternative in the future as well. SMPs can be induced to undergotransitions between states by changes in temperature, light, and fieldssuch as electrical or magnetic ones. Some SMPs are also known to be ableto remember three states, instead of only two (e.g., some can switchfrom a first state to a second one upon being subjected to a firstinducer, and from the second one to a third one upon being subjected toa second inducer). Wires based on such elastic properties can be usefulespecially during the initial stages of treatment.

By frictional coefficient, it is referred to the ratio of a forceopposing movement due to friction to a force pressing the objects towardeach other. Sometimes also referred to as the coefficient of friction,the frictional coefficient is a measure of the friction, or of the forceresisting the relative motion of two objects. For example, if the innersurface of the anchoring member of the frame and also the bottom surfaceof the bracket are made smooth, they would have a lower frictionalcoefficient compared to the case in which both are made with texturedsurfaces. The same can be said of the frictional coefficient between theexternal surface of the anchoring member of the frame and the surface ofa tooth. By a high frictional coefficient, it is referred to africtional coefficient that is high enough to prevent relative movementsof the two objects (e.g., the bracket and the frame). By preventing therelative movements, what is meant is that the two objects would not moverelative to each other more than a certain percentage of their averagelength during a certain period of time (e.g., 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, or 10%within 1 day, 1 month, or 1 month). In the field, with respect toarchwires and brackets, it is commonly believed that stainless steel canslide relatively well on stainless steel, whereas nickel-titanium alloywires and ceramic brackets have higher frictional coefficients.

With the term single-piece, it is referred to an object (e.g., frame)that is not easily separated into components in a reversible way. Suchan object may be made from substantially the same material throughout,or can be made from a mixture of materials. An object made of multipleobjects welded together is also considered to be a single-piece object.

In some embodiments, self-ligating brackets can be used, in addition tomore traditional brackets. Arch wires can be maxillary or mandibular,and they can be made of NiTi, TMA, or stainless steel. The wires can beparabolic shaped or shaped in any other way as desired. The wires can bestraight wires, as opposed to requiring to be bent by a clinician.Retainers may need to be worn after the dental braces are removed. Thebrackets used can be modified to make them self-ligating brackets.Additional usable components include bands, molar tubes, brackets,buccal tubes, arch wires, and auxiliaries. Auxiliaries can includeelastomeric products, coil springs, lingual arches, and extra-oralappliances.

The bracket system described herein can be positioned on the labial orbuccal side (collectively, the facial side) of a tooth. In alternativeembodiments, the bracket system can also be positioned on the lingualside.

In some embodiments, the terms “bracket” instead of “bracket slotcomponent”, “neck” instead of “stem”, “interior surface” instead of“textured surface of interior”, “arm A/B/C/D” instead of “lower/upperarm”, and “groove” instead of “bracket compartment” are used. Inalternative embodiments, the term “fastener” and “plate” may be usedinterchangeably. In those embodiments, although strictly inaccurate, theterm “hinge” may be used to point to a “side wall”. Referring to FIG. 9,another embodiment of the bracket system is shown.

Bracket system 190A is shown in a perspective view with two of itsparts: bracket 170 and frame 180A. Bracket 170 has arm 154A, arm 154B,arm 154C, and arm 154D. These arms are arranged in such a way that thespaces between them create one or more slots. In the figure, the spacecreated by arms 154A and 154B on one side, and arms 154C and 154D on theother side is first slot 156. In some embodiments, a wire (e.g., anarchwire) can be placed (e.g., inserted, threaded, positioned) into thisfirst slot. Second slot 158 is formed by the arms 154B and 154C on oneside and the arms 154A and 154D on the other side. In some embodiments,this second slot can also be used to place a wire. Also shown as part ofbracket 170 in this figure are the extensions. Extension 164B is seen asa wing of arm 154B, extension 164C as a wing of arm 154C, and extension164D as a wing of arm 154D. Extension 164A is the wing of arm 154A.These extensions are overhangs that can allow placement of a ligatingmember (such as a ligating module, which can be a donut shaped plasticpiece that ties in an archwire to the bracket). Other than the bracket,in FIG. 9, the frame is shown. Frame 180A is seen to have receivingmember 114A, anchoring member 112A, and clip 124A. Anchoring member isthe part of the frame that is closest to the tooth surface, and thereceiving member is the part that is closer to the bracket arms. Theclip materially is not a separate piece in this embodiment, and is seento be an extension of the anchoring member. Because the clip constitutesthe fastener, and because the fastener is integral to the frame, in thisembodiment, frame 180A and frame member 110A are not practicallydistinct. In other embodiments, it will become clear that when fastenerincludes additional items (such as screws), the frame member is mostlycomprised by anchoring and receiving members, whereas the frame iscomprised by not only the anchoring and receiving members, but also bythe fastener (e.g., a screw).

The fastener shown in FIG. 9 is seen to have clip teeth 124B that lockagainst receiving teeth 124C of the receiving member. Clip 124A is alsoseen to have stopper 124D and clip opening 124E. The stopper ensuresthat even if the clip teeth lose their grip, the receiving member willnot be substantially removed from the anchoring member. The clip openingis an optional feature, and in some embodiments can be eliminated.

Also seen in FIG. 9 are hinge 116A and groove 130A. The hinge connectsthe receiving and the anchoring members and allows relative movements ofthe two in order to accommodate insertion and removal of a bracket. Thehinge can be manufactured from the same materials as the rest of theframe, and need not be a separate piece. In certain embodiments, thehinge can be a separate piece. Groove 130A is the compartment betweenthe receiving and the anchoring members within which the base of thebracket is accommodated. Even though shown as open through the entirelength of the area of the receiving member, the groove can be blockedfrom the sides in some embodiments. For example, either the receivingmember or the anchoring member, or both can have an extension on theside that when the two members are closed onto each other, essentiallycloses one or more sides of the groove.

The term “closed” or “closing” in the context of the two members, thereceiving and the anchoring members, is used to refer to the relativestate of the two members when the receiving member cannot easily receivea bracket. As should be apparent, the two members need to be, at leastslightly, pried open so that a bracket can be inserted withoutsignificant friction. Such a state, in which a bracket can be insertedand removed without significant friction, is referred to as the “open”state of the frame. On the other hand, the terms “lock”, “locked”, etc.are used to relate to the state of the receiving members and anchoringmembers when they are secured to prevent accidental or unwanted movementof the bracket. In certain embodiments in which the receiving membersand anchoring members do not move, the term “locked” refers to thebracket being secured and does not move accidentally or unwantedly. Insuch an embodiment in which the receiving members and anchoring membersare stationary, the term “unlocked” refers to the bracket's ability tomove within the frame without significant friction. The terms “unlock”,“unlocked”, etc. relate to the state of bracket's ability to moverelative to the frame. When the bracket is locked within the frame, apatient cannot simply pull and remove a bracket from the frame whileleaving all the parts intact.

In particular embodiments that have a plate, a distinction between openand closed states need not be made, since the anchoring and receivingmembers are relatively fixed with respect to each other. In thoseembodiments, the bracket system can be locked by use of a plate, andunlocked by the movement and/or removal of the plate.

Now referring to FIG. 10, the left side shows bracket 170 and the rightside shows frame 180A. As shown in this side view, bracket 170 has base150 and neck 152, in addition to having the arms and extensionsmentioned during the discussion of FIG. 9. First slot 156 is clearlyvisible between arm 154B and arm 154C. A wire can be placed into thatslot and then stabilized via a variety of methods (e.g., ligatingmodules that make use of the extensions, or additional covers that goabove the slot). Neck 152, referred to as a stem in some otherembodiments, connects the base of the bracket with the arms of thebracket. The neck can be substantially surrounded by the receivingmember once the bracket is in place within a frame. Base 150, once abracket is placed into the groove (also called compartment in otherembodiments) of a frame, rests against the inner surface of theanchoring member. In some embodiments, either one or both of the innersurface of the anchoring member and the bottom surface of the base aremanufactured as a textured surface in order to increase the frictionwhen they come together. This aids in stabilizing the relative positionsof the two.

On the right side of FIG. 10, frame 180A is shown with opening 118A,neck opening 120A, interior surface 126A, lobe 122A, lobe 122B, and lobe122C. Opening 118A is where the bracket will be rested once in place.Within the opening, the bracket has freedom to move, provided that theframe is in an unlocked position. The neck opening is designed to allowinsertion of the bracket into the frame. Upon prying apart at either theclip or the receiving member, depending on the embodiment used, abracket can be slid through neck opening 120A and positioned withinopening 118A. Interior surface 126A can be textured to increase thefrictional grip it has on the bracket. The lobes can be arranged in anyway, and there can be fewer or more than three lobes. In an embodiment,the lobes confer an enhanced degree of movement to the bracket. Forexample, in the figure shown, the bracket can be positioned along any ofthe four directions: toward lobe 122A, toward lobe 122B, toward lobe122C, or toward neck opening 120A. Also, the bracket can be rotatedclockwise or counterclockwise within the opening. The ability to move inthese various directions is useful because by placing a bracket in adifferent location with respect to the tooth, a different force can beexerted onto the tooth, effectively moving it in a different way.

Turning our attention to FIG. 11, bracket system 190A is shown from aside view. This view clearly shows the interlocking clip teeth 124B andreceiving teeth 124C. Stopper 124D is also shown to stop any potentialmovement beyond a certain level, in case the clip teeth or the receivingteeth suffer a trauma and are unable to lock the frame. Base 150 of thebracket is seen to be placed into groove 130A of the frame. In thisfigure, the first slot, which can accept a wire, is seen to be in adirection parallel to that of the clip. This is not mandatory, as willbecome clear with inspection of the next figure.

FIG. 12 shows bracket system 190A from a perspective view, this timewith bracket 170 rotated to a different degree than the one shown inFIG. 9. From this drawing, it should be apparent that the bracket can berotated to any degree (e.g., 0 to 360 degrees). In any of these rotatedorientations, any of the slots (first slot 156 or second slot 158) canbe used to accommodate an archwire. In addition to rotating the bracketaround a range of 360 degrees, the bracket can also be moved(translated) toward any of the 360 degrees. Even though the highestlevel of movement will be allowed in the directions corresponding tothose of the lobes, some movement toward other directions can also bepermitted in certain embodiments. A range of rotations and movements ispossible with bracket being able to move within the lobes and rotate thewithin frame.

FIG. 13 shows a top view of bracket system 190A, which shows oneembodiment having markings on the bracket and the frame to assist thedental practitioner in aligning the bracket. Any embodiment describedherein can use such a bracket with the markings for alignment. In thisfigure, the relative alignment is achieved with the coarse orthogonalmarkings, fine orthogonal markings, and oblique markings of the framewith the orthogonal bracket markings and oblique bracket markings.Coarse orthogonal markings 132A through 132K are in a perpendiculardirection to an edge of the receiving member (marks 132I and 132K arenot visible in the figure). Fine orthogonal markings 134A through 134Lare also in a perpendicular direction to an edge of the receivingmember, but are shorter than the coarse orthogonal markings (marks 134Jand 1343K are not visible in the figure). Such an arrangement can beused, for example by first aligning the bracket against the coarsemarkings and then against the fine ones to increase the precision. Inaddition to these orthogonal markings, the receiving member is alsoshown to have oblique markings 136A through 136 D. Any of these markingscan be of use during both the rotational and translational movements ofthe bracket with respect to the receiving member. To make it easier toregister the bracket against these markings, the bracket itself can havemarkings. The figure shows bracket 170 to have orthogonal bracketmarkings 160A through 160D and oblique bracket markings 162A through162D. A clinician can record and keep track of the relative alignmentsof these against each other throughout the duration of a treatment. Thatway, an accurate history of the progress of the forces applied on atooth will be available, which can be used to further increase theprecision of the orthodontic treatment.

Referring now to FIG. 14, an additional embodiment of the bracket systemis displayed in a perspective view, with its components shownseparately. Bracket system 190B is shown with bracket 170, frame 180B,first screw 124F, and second screw 124G. In this embodiment, instead ofthe clip that was used in the embodiments shown in figures FIG. 9through FIG. 13, screws and screw receivers are used. A screw receiveris a hole having a complementary thread to the helical ridge of a screw.Screws, depending on their design, can be tightened by clockwise orcounterclockwise rotation, and then untightened by an opposite rotation.The combination of screw 124F, screw 124G, and frame member 110Bconstitutes frame 180B. Screw 124F is initially received by first screwreceiver 124H, which can have a complementary interior surface to snuglyreceive first screw 124F. Similarly, second screw 124G is initiallyreceived by second screw receiver 124I. To achieve the locking of theframe, each screw is ultimately received by an additional screwreceiver. First screw 124F is received by third screw receiver 124J, andsecond screw 124G is received by fourth screw receiver 124K (shown inFIG. 16). The third and fourth screw receivers do not need to extendalong the full width of the anchoring member, although they can if thescrews are manufactured with a limited length so that they will notprotrude from the anchoring side toward the tooth. In some embodiments,only the third and fourth screw receivers have spirally accommodatinggrooves for the screws, and the first and second receivers are merelyholes through which the screws can pass.

FIG. 14 also shows parts that are analogous to those shown in priorembodiments. Examples of parts shown are lobes 122D through 122F, groove130B, anchoring member 112B, receiving member 114B, frame member 110B,opening 118B, neck opening 120B, and bracket 170 with similar parts.Unlike the previous embodiment shown, this one has two hinges: hinge116B and hinge 116C. In some embodiments, there can be fewer or morehinges. Similarly, in alternative embodiments, there can be fewer ormore screws and screw receivers. Screws can be placed anywhere along theframe, as long as they stabilize, or do not prevent stabilization of abracket. This figure intuitively illustrates how a bracket can beinserted onto a frame though the neck opening of the frame and the howthe frame can be locked to stabilize the bracket.

Directing our attention to FIG. 15, bracket system 190B is shown withthe bracket 170 and frame 180B, as they fit together. Screw 124G is seento extend along groove 130B all the way to the fourth screw receiver.First slot 156 formed between arms 154A with 154B on one side and 154Cwith 154D on the other side is shown to be perpendicular to thedirection from one screw to the other. Similar to other embodiments,another slot can be used, as well as the first slot, to place a wire.Again similarly, the bracket can be rotated or translated, or rotatedand translated in any direction that is within a plane parallel to theplane of the receiving member.

Referring to FIG. 16, bracket system 190B is shown in a perspective viewthat makes apparent the exterior surface of the frame that contacts atooth. This view is upside-down compared to the one in FIG. 15. Exteriorsurface 128B is shown to have a series of circular depressions. Avariety of texture features can be used on the exterior surface on anyof the embodiments described herein. In addition to depressions,projections, recesses, general roughness, and any regular or irregularfeatures, pure or together with other kinds of features can be used, aslong as the final exterior surface has a better frictional interaction,to any degree, with a tooth surface than an exterior surface with nofeatures. In an embodiment of using the bracket system, a clinicianleaves the frame on the tooth for the entire duration of the treatment,which can last up to years, and only adjusts the bracket during certainintervals. Because the frame only will need to be removed once, at theend of the treatment, the bonding between a tooth and the exteriorsurface can be strong.

Now looking at FIG. 17, the frame part of a yet another embodiment ofthe bracket system is shown. In parallel with the previously discussedembodiments, the frame is stabilized by a fastener; however, in contrastto the previous embodiments, the fastener is a lever and not a screw ora clip, in the sense of the previous embodiments. Frame 180C is shownhaving lever 124L. Lever 124L is attached to the frame at first leversupport 124P and at second lever support 124Q. The lever, shown overallto have a shape of an irregular tube herein, is threaded in thisembodiment through first lever receiver 124R and second lever receiver124S. First lever receiver 124R is a hole within first lever support124P, and second lever receiver 124S is a hole within second leversupport 124Q. Lever 124L can rotate through the two lever receivers suchthat it can reach near the hinge from the receiving member side asshown. The depicted embodiment is a locked position of the frame.Locking action is accomplished by lever lock 124N, which is the part ofthe lever that applies pressure on the side of the receiving member thatis near neck opening 120C. As seen, lever lock is a segment of the leverthat longitudinally protrudes away from the lever in such a way thatwhen the lever is closed toward hinge 116D, the lever lock presses ontothe receiving member. Also shown in this figure are lobes 122G though122I, groove 130C, frame member 110C, anchoring member 112C, receivingmember 114C, and opening 118C. The part of the handle that can be moved,manually or with a tool, is designated as lever handle 124M. Leverhandle can be the entire accessible length of the lever other than thelever lock, or it can be just the part of the lever that extends alongthe hinge when closed, depending on the embodiment.

FIG. 18 shows bracket system 190C with lever 124L in a position thatdisplays frame 180C in an unlocked position. As seen, in contrast toFIG. 17, when the lever is lifted away from hinge 116D, receiving member112C is free to move away from anchoring member 114C, effectivelyfreeing bracket 170 to move or rotate within the opening. A cliniciancan lift lever handle 124M, adjust bracket 170, and then lock the leverhandle by closing it toward hinge 116D. Even though the figure showsfirst slot 156 to be positioned in the direction along the hinge, asshould be apparent from the ability of the bracket to translate orrotate in any direction, the first slot can be aligned in any direction.In some embodiments, the second slot can be used as well, either tothread a wire through or to stabilize a wire threaded through the firstslot. Locking can be effected by motions of the lever to positions otherthan the one shown in the figures as well.

Presenting a different embodiment, FIG. 19 shows a bracket system inwhich the anchoring member and the receiving member are connected toeach other via three sides (e.g., stationary sides). In alternativeembodiments, the two members may also be connected through a number ofsides different than three, for example they can be connected throughtwo sides. Anchoring member 112F is connected via sides 116F, 116G, and116H (not all shown) to receiving member 114F. In this embodiment, thesides, the receiving member, and the anchoring member are constructed asa single piece. The anchoring member, the receiving member and the sidesdefine a cavity in which, when in use, the bracket base and at least aportion of the plate reside. The height between the two members isrelatively constant. Also shown in this figure is bracket 170F, whichcan be substantially the same as the previous brackets shown (such asbracket 170). In contrast to the previous embodiments, in which thefastening of the system was achieved by the use of an external fastener,in this embodiment the fastener is essentially a plate. Plate 210 can beslid into the cavity and underneath the bracket, in which case it restsabove the inner surface of the anchoring member of the frame and belowthe bottom surface of the bracket base. As such, the plate fixes thebracket system in place. In an embodiment, the plate has a sloping ortapered thickness. The plate has an insertion end and a grip end. Theinsertion end is the end that is inserted into the cavity and the gripend is the end that a user grips with fingers or plyers to perform theinsertion. In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 19, the insertionend is the end having the spring members/wings and the grip end is theend with the two openings for receiving a plyer. For example, thethickness at the grip end is greater than that at the insertion end. Asthe plate is inserted, the thickness of the plate at a point along thelength of the plate meets the space between the bracket base and theinterior surface of the anchoring member. When the plate hits thatpoint, the bracket is locked in position within the frame. Put anotherway, the plate has a plurality of thicknesses along the length of theplate that gradually tapers from the grip end to the insertion end. At apoint along the length of the plate, the thickness is equal to the spacebetween the bracket base and the anchoring member. Yet said another way,the thickness at a point along the length of the plate plus the heightof the bracket base is equal to the space of the cavity.

For ease of insertion and removal, the plate can have one or more grips.In the figure shown, there are two holes, grips 212A and 212B, whichenable a dental practitioner to remove the plate from the bracket systemusing a dental hand tool such as players. In other embodiments, therecan be another number of grips (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5). The grips need notbe holes, as long as they enable displacement (e.g., removal) of theplate they are sufficient for their purpose. For example, the grips canbe an indentation or groove. In addition to the grips, the plate hasspring 214. Spring 214 has to spring members that, under pressure, willcompress. When not under pressure, the spring members will return totheir original shape/position. The spring is not essential for thefunctioning of the plate; however, in some embodiments it helps securethe bracket system in place. During insertion the pressure can beapplied and the spring members can collapse a bit to allow for ease ofinsertion. When in a locked position (e.g., when plate is inserted underthe bracket base to prevent unwanted movement of the bracket), in anembodiment, the spring members apply force to the frame and the bracketbase to keep them in place. For use, in one method, the bracket isinserted into the frame through neck opening 120F, and placed so thatneck 152F passes through receiving member opening 118F, which is betweenlobes 122J, 122K, and 122L. After that, plate 210 is inserted to thespace underneath base 150F and above interior surface 126F. Each of thecomponents can be reused, and need not be a disposable single-use part.In some embodiments, the plate has a sloped surface, and has a varyingthickness along its length, which in turn causes the pressure toincrease while it is being inserted, so that the plate cannot go furtherthan a certain distance and so that at some point, optimal pressure isachieved.

FIG. 20 shows the same embodiment introduced in FIG. 19, with the threecomponents of the bracket system shown together. In this side view, theplate has been inserted into the cavity and the bracket is firmly inplace within the frame. Therefore, the bracket system in a lockedposition. A dentist or other dental practitioner can remove the plate byengaging plyers with the grip, thereby setting the bracket system in anunlocked position. Accordingly, the dental practitioner can adjust theposition of the bracket and re-insert the plate and lock the bracketinto a different position that the initial position of the bracket. Theplate, the bracket, and the frame can be used repeatedly and the bracketcan be re-positioned a multitude of times.

FIG. 21 also depicts the embodiment of the bracket system shown in FIG.19, in which the plate is inserted but the grip end remains outside theframe. Since the grip end remains outside the frame, a clinician canengage the grip end to remove the plate. The plate being “removed” or“inserted” refer to differing degrees of removal/insertion. For example,as described above, depending on to what degree the plate is in or out,that the bracket is in a locked position or is in an unlocked position.Especially for embodiments in which the plate has a varying thickness(e.g., has a sloped upper surface), the bracket system can beeffectively locked with a partial insertion of the plate. The grips,which can be openings or mere indentations, allow removal of the plate.In some embodiments, there is only one grip.

Overall, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 19, 20, and 21 provides increasedmanufacturability and stability. Because the frame is enclosed, it holdseverything in place and prevents potential breakages of parts, since theframe can be manufactured as a single piece.

The described embodiments can be used to move a tooth in a variety ofdirections, as described. Additional components can be added to thebracket system. For example, metallic ligatures, elastic ligatures, or aself-ligating system component can be used to ensure stabilization of awire. Other related components that can be used are bands, molar tubes,elastomeric products, coil springs, lingual arches, extra-oralappliances, and retainers. In some embodiments, the bracket component ofthe bracket system can have a base that is so slanted to result in theslot being angled in different ways relative to the surface of thetooth, and positioned in different ways relative to the center ofresistance of the tooth. Alternatively, the arms and the surface of theneck that is away from the base can be manufactured in ways that wouldresult in a desired slanting. The neck and the arms can also bemanufactured in ways that can increase or decrease the distance betweenthe base of the bracket and the area accessible to a wire within theslot. That would effectively result in movements of the bracket towardor away from a surface of a tooth. It is also possible to use anexternal item to be placed between the bracket and the frame, so as toobtain alternative arrangements of the bracket system. In someembodiments, the bracket can have a single slot, whereas, in others, incan have more than two slots. The bracket, in certain embodiments, canhave fewer than four or more than four arms.

In alternative embodiments, the bracket system can include at least twocomponents: a frame and a slot component/bracket. In some embodiments,the bracket system has at least three components: a frame, bracket, anda plate. On one side (e.g., the exterior side), the frame can be bondedto the tooth surface with the use of an adhesive material commonly usedin orthodontics. The frame can have a shape that bends on itself andcreates a compartment (e.g., groove) in which the slot component (e.g.,bracket) can move. The bracket slot component can include a stem (e.g.,neck), a base, and a top portion where the slot and other components ofa normal bracket lie. The stem can be positioned immediately below thetop portion of the bracket and can be accommodated in the opening of theframe. The base of the bracket component can be below the stem and canfit into the groove of the frame as it lies atop a textured interior(e.g., interior surface) of the bracket frame. The textured interior canensure that the bracket component does not move freely within the space(e.g., groove, compartment) created by the bracket frame. The diameterof the bracket stem can be smaller than the opening created by the framesuch that the bracket stem fits within the opening. The base of the stemcan be wider than the stem, and can be narrower than the frame. When theframe is in passive form, or when the bracket system is unlocked,vertical pressure is relieved from the slot component, and lessfrictional force (or no substantial frictional force) is generatedbetween the base of the component and the textured interior surface ofthe frame. When the frame is in active form, or when the bracket systemis locked, the vertical pressure is increased either by decreasing thedistance between the two members of the frame or by insertion of theplate. In this instance, the bracket base is constrained between the twomembers so that it cannot freely move. This can create an increasedvertical pressure and can increase the frictional force between thebracket base and the frame's textured interior surface to the point thatthe slot becomes substantially stationary.

According to this particular embodiment explained above, when the frameis unlocked, the slot component can freely rotate 360 degrees around thecentral longitudinal axis (e.g., the axis that extends along thedirection between the center of the base and the center of the bracketslot) of the stem. The slot can also slide (as the arms slide) to anydirection within the area defined by the frame boundaries, and to thelimit that the slot stem comes in contact with the frame boundaries.

The exterior surface of the frame that is designed to contact a tooth(e.g., the exterior surface of the anchoring member) can be serrated,meshed, or made rough in any other way to increase bond strength. Theexterior surface of the frame that is designed to contact a tooth canhave adaptive curves associated with the morphology of tooth surface,whereas the side of the frame that faces the bracket (e.g., the exteriorsurface of the frame that is closest to the slot of the bracket) neednot be so morphologically processed. The bottom surface of the bracketbase and the base-facing-side of the frame (e.g., the interior surface)can have micro-projections, or other friction enhancing properties, toprevent or reduce the probability of sliding of the slot when the frameis locked. In some embodiments, there also is a high frictionalcoefficient between the bottom part of the arms and the top externalpart of the receiving members.

Locking the frame can be accomplished by a variety of mechanisms. Forexample, screws can be used. Alternatively, a plate can be used that isslid under the bracket. Tightening of the screws can create verticalpressure between the frame components that hold the slot component andthis can lead to increased friction between the bracket base and frame'stextured interior surface to the point at which the slot componentbecomes substantially stationary (e.g., does not move more than 1%, 2%,3%, 4%, 5%, 10% of its length in any direction in a given day, week, ormonth).

Another method of locking the frame can incorporate an undercut (e.g., aclip that extends from the part of the frame that is set to contact atooth) as a part of the frame. Similar to the way a locking pin (e.g., ascrew, as described) can work, the component of the frame that isdesigned to be away from a tooth can be squeezed under the undercut,which can create a desired vertical pressure necessary to increase africtional force to prevent the slot component from substantiallymoving.

Another feature found in some embodiments of the present invention isthe presence of markings on the bracket as well as the frame. Markingscan be placed anywhere on any of the components of the bracket system.These markings can allow a user to quantify the amount of movement inany direction. Borders of the frame can be marked similar to those of aruler and the bracket can have reference points. At any given time, auser can determine the amount of movement in any direction by comparingthe position of the reference points (e.g., orthogonal bracket markings,oblique bracket markings) on the bracket with the measurements (e.g.,coarse orthogonal markings, fine orthogonal markings, and obliquemarkings) on the frame. This can also allow a user to reset the brackettip and torque at any given time by aligning the bracket with the frame.

The present invention involves methods of using bracket system describedherein. The steps of the method include anchoring the frame of thebracket system onto the tooth using an adhesive (e.g., bondingmaterial). An embodiment of the method of the present invention includesplacing the bracket into the frame and securing the bracket into aposition within the frame. The way the bracket is locked into positionvaries depending on the frame being used, but, for example, the framecan be fastened using the clip, screws or lever, as described herein.The steps of the method include positioning the bracket in the frame(e.g., within one of the lobes and/or rotating the bracket) to achievethe desired movement and positioning of the teeth. Once the bracket isin place, the teeth are allowed to move for a period of time (e.g.,about 1 day to about 3 months, and preferably between about 1 and about4 weeks) until the next adjustment of the bracket. At the next visit,the dental practitioner does not need to re-position the frame andrebond the frame to the tooth. The dental practitioner simply readjuststhe bracket within the frame by unlocking the frame, re-positioning thebracket, and locking the frame. Accordingly, the method of the presentinvention further includes re-positioning the bracket without having torebond the frame, which can be done repeatedly over a multitude ofvisits, to allow the teeth to continue to move into the desiredposition.

The relevant teachings of all the references, patents and/or patentapplications cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described withreferences to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the scope of the inventionencompassed by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A bracket system for use as part of orthodonticbraces, the bracket system comprising: a) a bracket that comprises: i)one or more arms that form one or more slots that can receive a wire;ii) a neck; and iii) a base; and b) a frame configured to receive thebracket, wherein the frame comprises: i) an anchoring member that cananchor the frame to a tooth; ii) a receiving member that can receive thebracket; iii) two or more sides, wherein the two or more sides connectthe anchoring member to the receiving member, and wherein the anchoringmember, the receiving member, and the two or more sides form a singlepiece; and iv) a receiving member opening in the receiving memberthrough which the bracket can be received; wherein the anchoring member,receiving member and the two or more sides define a cavity in which thebracket base and the plate reside when in use, and define a plateinsertion opening through which a plate is inserted; and c) a platehaving a grip end and an insertion end, and when in use, engages thebracket base inside the cavity and places the bracket system into alocked position, and when disengaged places the bracket system into anunlocked position; wherein the frame is adapted to receive the bracketbase and the plate, and wherein once the frame is attached to the toothon a patient and the bracket system is in the unlocked position, thebracket can be positioned at more than one angle, and can be moved intomore than one position without the frame being removed from orreattached to the tooth.
 2. The bracket system of claim 1, wherein theexterior surface of the frame that comes into contact with a tooth istextured such that it has a high frictional coefficient when contactingthe tooth.
 3. The bracket system of claim 2, wherein the plate has atapered thickness from the grip end to the insertion end.
 4. The bracketsystem of claim 3, wherein the thickness of the frame at the grip endtogether with a thickness of the bracket base is slightly exceeds adistance of a height of the cavity.
 5. The bracket system of claim 1,wherein the bracket has four arms.
 6. The bracket system of claim 1,wherein when in the unlocked position, the bracket can be rotated to anyorientation, wherein the orientations comprise translations androtations of the bracket with respect to the frame, wherein therotations are between the degrees of zero and three-hundred-and-sixty,and wherein the translations are in the direction of any said degrees.7. The bracket system of claim 1, further comprising frame-markings onthe frame and bracket-markings on the bracket, wherein theframe-markings and the bracket-markings, when aligned relative to eachother, enable accurate positioning of the bracket within the frame. 8.The bracket system of claim 1, wherein the plate comprises one or morespring members.
 9. The bracket system of claim 1, wherein the grip endof the plate comprises an indentation, a groove or an opening forattachment of a tool used to insert or remove the plate into or from thecavity.
 10. The bracket system of claim 1, wherein one or morecomponents of the bracket system are substantially made, in part or inwhole, from nickel-titanium alloys, titanium-molybdenum alloys,stainless steel, or a combination thereof.
 11. The bracket system ofclaim 1, wherein the frame can be attached to the lingual side of atooth.
 12. The bracket system of claim 1, wherein the frame can beattached to the facial side of a tooth.
 13. A method of using a bracketsystem, the bracket system comprises: i) a bracket that comprises: (1)one or more arms that form one or more slots that can receive a wire;(2) a neck; and (3) a base; and ii) a frame configured to receive thebracket, wherein the frame comprises: (1) an anchoring member that cananchor the frame to a tooth; (2) a receiving member that can receive thebracket; (3) two or more sides, wherein the two or more sides connectthe anchoring member to the receiving member, and wherein the anchoringmember, the receiving member, and the two or more sides form a singlepiece; and (4) a receiving member opening in the receiving memberthrough which the bracket can be received; wherein the anchoring member,receiving member and the two or more sides define a cavity in which thebracket base and the plate reside when in use, and define a plateinsertion opening through which a plate is inserted; and iii) a platehaving a grip end and an insertion end, and when in use, engages thebracket base inside the cavity and places the bracket system into alocked position, and when disengaged places the bracket system into anunlocked position; wherein the frame is adapted to receive the bracketbase and the plate, and wherein once the frame is attached to the toothon a patient and the bracket system is in the unlocked position, thebracket can be positioned at more than one angle, and can be moved intomore than one position without the frame being removed from orreattached to the tooth; wherein the method comprises the steps of: a)placing the bracket into the receiving member opening of the frame in afirst position; and b) inserting the plate into the cavity so that theplate engages the bracket base and locks the bracket into the lockedposition.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: anchoring theanchoring member of the frame of the bracket system onto the tooth. 15.The method of claim 13, further comprising: a) removing the plate fromthe cavity so that the bracket is an unlocked position; and b)repositioning the bracket.
 16. The method of claim 15; furthercomprising re-inserting the plate into the cavity, after the bracket isrepositioned into a second position, so that the plate engages thebracket base and locks the bracket into the locked position.
 17. A kitfor using as a part of orthodontic braces, the kit comprising: a) abracket that comprises: i) one or more arms that form one or more slotsthat can receive a wire; ii) a neck; and iii) a base; and b) a frameconfigured to receive the bracket, wherein the frame comprises: i) ananchoring member that can anchor the frame to a tooth; ii) a receivingmember that can receive the bracket; iii) two or more sides, wherein thetwo or more sides connect the anchoring member to the receiving member,and wherein the anchoring member, the receiving member, and the two ormore sides form a single piece; and iv) a receiving member opening inthe receiving member through which the bracket can be received; whereinthe anchoring member, receiving member and the two or more sides definea cavity in which the bracket base and the plate reside when in use, anddefine a plate insertion opening through which a plate is inserted; andc) a plate having a grip end and an insertion end, and when in use,engages the bracket base inside the cavity and places the bracket systeminto a locked position, and when disengaged places the bracket systeminto an unlocked position; wherein the frame is adapted to receive thebracket base and the plate, and wherein once the frame is attached tothe tooth on a patient and the bracket system is in the unlockedposition, the bracket can be positioned at more than one angle, and canbe moved into more than one position without the frame being removedfrom or reattached to the tooth.